The Science Of How A Hurricane Works (Synopsis) [Starts With A Bang]

“She didn’t even know what she’d do when she got back to New Orleans, but inside she felt a yearning to shove her hands in the dirt, to cling to the ground there, forever.” -Sarah Rae

Hurricanes are among the most destructive natural disasters to occur on Earth, with extensive flooding, property damage and loss of life commonly accompanying them. But they’re also inevitable consequences — at least on our world — of two simple factors: warm ocean waters and winds.

Thanks to the physics of temperature, pressure, phase changes and air flow, the development of tropical cyclones during the right time of year is unavoidable. Most of them will turn out to be harmless to humanity, but under the right conditions, catastrophe can ensue.

National Hurricane Center forecast as of 5 pm on October 4th. Image credit: NOAA.